Men’s golf off to rough start

Posting a tenth-place finish at the Apr. 2-3 University of Saint Francis Spring Invitational and a sixth-place finish at the Knight Invite Apr. 21, the Forester men’s golf team is more than what its score sheet might show.

Posting a tenth-place finish at the Apr. 2-3 University of Saint Francis Spring Invitational and a sixth-place finish at the Knight Invite Apr. 21, the Forester men’s golf team is more than what its score sheet might show.

“We feel as if our conference has underrated us, as we have been ranked in last place for the conference tournament at Glendarin in two weeks, so we would like to prove that we are better than that,” freshman Zach Borntreger said.

Competing at their home invitational Apr. 24-25 and Indiana Wesleyan University Apr. 27, the final test of the season for the Foresters will be the Crossroads League Tournament held at Glendarin Hills GC in Angola.

Junior Derek Zurcher said that the team has the goal of winning the conference tournament.

“We want to play as well as we can and hopefully come away with a win or two,” he said. “Ultimately, our goal is to win our conference tournament and make it to Nationals.”

A big factor playing into the men’s performance has been the inclement Indiana spring weather. Interim coach Pete Schownir, in a press release, praised his team for combatting “the worst conditions I have ever experienced during a golf tournament.”

According to the press release, Schownir said, “I thought the guys adapted well and kept their patience. Everyone had a couple of bad holes that prevented us from placing in the top half of the field. Pilgrim’s Run was an unfamiliar course to us and can be punishing if you find the wrong places.”

The weather Schownir referred to included 30-degree temperatures with up to 40 mile per hour winds mixed with occasional sleet, snow and rain.

Despite the hardships, junior Lance Hoch was still able to put together a 79 scorecard (42, 37) to tie for eighth overall. Ryan Boester (40, 44), Devin Dale (40, 44) and Zurcher (39, 45) turned in an 84.

The team looks forward to warmer weather and summer months as a change to improve.

“During the summer months, we have to take matter into our own hands by working on our game to make the small improvements,” Hoch said.

Borntreger called the upcoming 2015-2016 season a “transitional year,” as Rick Sholund will take over as the men’s head coach.

“Rick has already made a positive impact on the team, going back to the workouts he gave us during the winter months in the offseason,” he said. “We are excited because he brings a passion for golf and a lot of new recruits that together are going to build the Huntington men’s golf program in a short time.”
Borntreger said that he believes the team will be able to boost its level of competitiveness while hopefully contending for a conference championship.